Scene 1: A Path Through the Unknown
Alistair left the Agarest family estate at dawn, the cool morning mist shrouding the path before him. His destination: the forgotten banished mentor, hidden deep in the forests of Valtheria. The journey wasn't a simple one; his family had cast the mentor out decades ago, and the path to his dwelling was long and treacherous.
As Alistair navigated through thick underbrush, he encountered signs of the wilderness—clawed trees, broken branches, and distant howls in the night. His senses remained sharp, knowing danger could lurk at any corner. But what he hadn't expected was an ambush.
Suddenly, from the thick foliage, a group of masked bandits leaped onto the path, surrounding Alistair. Their weapons gleamed, and their malicious smiles hinted at who might have sent them. Instinctively, Alistair's hand gripped his sword's hilt.
"Vincent and Leopold…" Alistair muttered under his breath, already suspecting his older brothers' involvement. But there was no time to dwell on it. The ambush was immediate and dangerous.
The bandits attacked with brute force, but Alistair's training kicked in. His sword danced through the air, deflecting blows and cutting through their disorganized assault. With raw strength and skill, Alistair held them off, forcing their retreat into the woods. It was clear—they were unprepared for the cursed swordsman's abilities.
Wiping blood from his blade, Alistair pressed forward, undeterred. He knew he was getting closer to his destination.
Scene 2: The Secrets of the Old Library
Before setting off on his journey, Alistair had made a brief but significant stop at the Agarest family's old library, an ancient wing of the estate untouched for years. Dust coated the shelves, and the faint scent of old parchment filled the air.
He scanned through forgotten tomes and scrolls, searching for anything that could shed light on his curse. At the far end of the room, hidden beneath layers of dust, he found an old journal. The worn leather cover bore the emblem of the Agarest family, but it wasn't familiar. Opening it, he realized it was a record kept by his great-grandfather's brother, the very mentor he was seeking.
The journal detailed the mentor's own curse—eerily similar to Alistair's. The handwriting grew increasingly erratic, as if the mentor's frustration with his affliction had driven him to the brink of madness. Alistair flipped to the last few entries, his heart racing as he read about a "21-Circle Curse," a powerful affliction of the heart's mana, sealing away the victim's full potential.
"…to break the curse, one must shatter each of the twenty-one circles," the journal read. "…but beware the consequences of failure."
Alistair closed the journal, his resolve strengthening. He now had a clue—one that could change his fate. He needed to find the mentor, not just to remove his curse but to learn the full truth behind it.
Scene 3: Shadows in the Hallways
Meanwhile, back at the estate, Vincent and Leopold sat in one of the drawing rooms, their expressions cold. Their plan to ambush Alistair had failed, but they were undeterred. Leopold tapped his fingers against the table, his eyes narrowing.
"He's tougher than we thought," Leopold said, the frustration in his voice evident.
Vincent merely smirked. "It doesn't matter. Let him reach the mentor. It'll make things even more interesting. We'll handle him when the time is right."
Their plotting continued, but it was clear they were waiting for an even greater opportunity to strike.
Scene 4: Arrival at the Deep Woods
Days passed, and Alistair finally arrived at the edge of the deepest part of the Valtherian woods. The trees here were ancient, their twisted branches blocking out much of the sunlight. In the center of this seemingly endless forest, a lone cottage stood, overgrown with vines and moss, a remnant of a forgotten past.
Alistair approached cautiously, his steps slow. The air around the cottage felt heavy, almost suffocating with magic. He could feel the lingering energy of the mentor, even before he knocked on the door.
After a tense moment, the door creaked open, revealing an old man with sharp eyes. His aura was undeniable—this was the mentor, the one who had been banished from the Agarest family. The man's gaze lingered on Alistair, and for a moment, neither spoke.
"You're the boy cursed, aren't you?" the mentor finally said, his voice raspy but firm. "Come inside. We have much to discuss."